Fears of no money to back housing growth
Fears have been raised about Northamptonshire's future expansion amid warnings the money may not be there to improve facilities for the county.
A report put before members of Northamptonshire County Council forecasts that over the next 13 years the county would need 40 new primary schools, six new secondary schools and between two and four new fire stations to keep pace with the Government's expansion plans.
But concerned members of the scrutiny committee, which discussed the report, said they feared Government cash to back the expansion may not be forthcoming.
Councillor John Bailey (Con, Finedon) warned the county must not accept expansion without the money for extra facilities.
He said: "The Government needs to be told this growth is their project and their desire, not ours.
"And if they're going to fail to provide the necessary money for roads, schools and things, then these houses will not happen, unless they're forced on us."
Government figures show almost 100,000 new houses are due to be built in Northamptonshire between 2001 and 2021.
The increase would see up to 240,000 new people move into the county over the 20-year period.
And the man behind the council's investigation into the expansion plan, Councillor Brian Hoare (Lib Dem, Abington) warned growth rates already seen in the county were nothing compared to what was around the corner.
He said: "We're only just experiencing the start of growth. From 2011 onwards the pace of growth will be 30 per cent higher than the first five years.
"So what we're experiencing today is not what we should anticipate in the future."
He added: "We've been through the easy stage, we are maybe now entering the most difficult stage in terms of demands on the council's services."
Referring to independent research published in 2006, Councillor Hoare also warned that the county could still be on course for a 715 million funding shortfall by 2021 unless Government funding rates were increased.
The issue will be discussed again by the full council later this year.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Breaking News: Teen arrested after five injured in crash on Northamptonshire road
- Major change planned for Northampton’s town centre roads
- BREAKING NEWS: Man who died following crash on Northamptonshire road named by police
- Police swoop at Northamptonshire ‘sex lay-by’ after lewd conduct revelations
- Bully trusted to look after baby jailed for breaking its leg and fracturing its rib
- Waste recycling bins begin arriving at homes across Northamptonshire
- Major change planned for Northampton’s town centre roads
- Torquay 1 - 0 Northampton: Cobblers stay bottom after third defeat in a row at Torquay United
- Police swoop at Northamptonshire ‘sex lay-by’ after lewd conduct revelations
- Cobblers fan charged with racially abusing a black player at Shrewsbury game
- Top Northampton choreographer names Olympic ceremony performance after Chron
- Anger at plans for Northampton pharmacy which wants to open 100 hours a week
- Althorp reveals Earl Spencer’s wife is expecting new baby
- Northampton Saints: Mallinder keen to keep homegrown star Diggin at Gardens
- Manchester United heroes to take on Daventry Town in game refereed by Northamptonshire MP
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Northampton
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: West
